“Thank you, James,” Theo said, accepting the portfolio.
“Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Patterson, would you like to see something interesting?”
He opened the portfolio and pulled out what appeared to be architectural drawings.
“These are the plans for the new Blackwood Tower downtown.”
“42 stories, mixeduse development.”
“Construction begins next month.”
He flipped to another page.
“And this is the site where it’s being built.”
Vivien leaned forward despite herself, then went very still.
“That’s that’s where Ashworth Properties has their main office building. had.”
Theo corrected gently.
“I purchased the building last month.”
“The current tenants have 90 days to relocate.”
“I’m sure your father will find suitable accommodations elsewhere, though perhaps not quite as prestigious as their current location.”
The color drained from Vivian’s face completely.
Her father’s real estate company was successful by Denver standards.
But they were clearly minnows swimming in a pond with a shark.
“You can’t do that,” she whispered.
“Actually, I can.”
“I did.”
“The sale is already complete.”
Theo closed the portfolio with a soft snap.
“But here’s the interesting part.”
“I had no idea when I bought that building that there was any connection to this family.”
“Pure coincidence.”
Brandon found his voice.
“What do you want?”
“Want?”
Theo seemed genuinely puzzled by the question.
“I don’t want anything from you, Brandon.”
“You’ve already given me the greatest gift imaginable by treating your mother so poorly that she needed someone to sit with her today.”
He turned to me and the hardness in his expression melted into something warm and real.
“Ellaner, would you like to leave this reception?”
“We have 50 years to catch up on and I find I’m no longer interested in pretending to enjoy myself here.”
The offer hung between us like a lifeline.
I could walk away from this humiliation, from the whispered comments and social calculations.
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